Towing dolly

ABSTRACT

A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis carrying a subframe mounted on the chassis to swing between a rearwardly extending position and a generally upright position, the subframe being provided with a pair of transversely-adjustable brackets adapted to engage, and be secured to, a part of a vehicle to be towed, a winch on the chassis, and a cable arrangement wound on the winch and operatively connected to the distal region of the subframe to swing the subframe to upright position after engagement with the vehicle part, the cable arrangement being directly connectable to a part of the vehicle to be towed.

United States Patent Russell Nov. 21, 1972 [54] TOWING DOLLY [72]Inventor: Arvin E. Russell, 430 Sandra Lane, Primary f Makaylndianapolis,1nd. 46227 Attorney-Hood, Gust, Irish, Lundy & Coffey [22]Filed: Nov. 18, 1970 Appl. No.: 90,516

[57] ABSTRACT A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassiscarrying a subframe mounted on the chassis to swing between a rearwardlyextending position and a generally upright position, the subframe beingprovided with a pair of transversely-adjustable brackets adapted toengage, and be secured to, a part of a vehicle to be towed, a winch onthe chassis, and a cable arrangement wound on the winch and operativelyconnected to the distal region of the subframe to swing the subframe toupright position after engagement with the vehicle part, the cablearrangement being directly connectable to a part of the vehicle to betowed.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnuvz: I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTORARVlN E. RUSSELL P'A'TEminuuvzi m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 ATTORNEYS TOWING DOLLYThe present invention relates to a dolly for lifting and supporting oneend of a vehicle to be towed. The primary object of the invention is toprovide a simple, relatively light, readily manipulatable, inexpensivedevice of the character described, so constructed and arranged that itsextended, low-lying rear end can be easily inserted beneath an end of avehicle to be towed, whereby a secure connection between the dolly andthe vehicle to be towed may be readily made, whereafter, the rearmostparts of the dolly may be swung, through the manipulation offorce-applying means on the dolly, to a substantially upright position,thus lifting one end of the vehicle to be towed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in such a dolly, animproved subframe which is movable between a substantially horizontal,rearwardly extending, low-lying position to a substantially uprightposition to accomplish the above described lifting. Another object ofthe invention is to provide improved means for establishing a towingcoupling between the dolly and the vehicle to be towed. Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide, in such a dolly, a cablearrangement which may itself establish a towing connection between thedolly and the vehicle to be towed, while additionally exerting forceupon the subframe to swing the same to its upright position.

Still further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towing dolly constructed in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, drawn to a reduced scale;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating details of onelateral region of the subframe, the cable arrangement and one of thebrackets for engagement with a part of the vehicle to be towed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view taken from the righthand end of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view taken in the plane of FIG. 3 andillustrating a further form of means for establishing a firm connectionbetween a subframe bracket and an element of the vehicle to be towed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeralindicates generally a wheeled chassis comprising a spine 1 1 carrying,at its rear end, a transversely extending base 12 rigidly braced withrespect to the spine by a pair of struts 13, 14. A suitable couplerelement 15, whereby the chassis may be operatively connected to a towingvehicle, is carried at the forward end of the spine 11 and an upstandingmast 16 is positioned near the forward end of said spine.

A small caster wheel 17 is located preferably at the position of themast; and three caster wheel assemblies 18, 19 and 20 are substantiallyequally laterally spaced across the length of the base 12. Theseassemblies may be identical and therefore only one will be described indetail. Each such assembly comprises a wheel 21 journailed on an axle 22spanning the arms of a U-shaped frame 23, the base of which supports apad 24 welded to the chassis base 12, the frame 23 being oscillableabout a swivel pin 25.

I-Iangers 26 and 27 are rigidly dependent from the base 12. at pointssubstantially equally oppositely spaced from the center of the chassisbase 12 and carry pivots 28 and 29, respectively, from which isswingably supported a subframe indicated generally by the referencenumeral 30.

The subframe comprises a pair of booms 3l'and 32 whose proximal ends arerespectively pivotally supported upon the pivots 28 and 29, and a crossbar 33 spanning and rigidly secured to the distal ends of the booms 31and 32. In the preferred form of the invention, each boom istelescopically adjustable, compris-' ing an outer member 34 and an innermember'35 axially slidably received therein. Each such inner member isprovided with an axially-spaced series of perforations adapted,selectively, to receive a pin 36 for limiting inward movement of themember 35, as will be clear from inspection of FIG. 1.

It will be apparent that the subframe 30 is movable between asubstantially horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and asubstantially upright position as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each boom isprovided with a finger 37 formed with a perforation 38 registrable, inthe extreme upright position of the subframe 30, with a perforation 39in the cross bar 12. When the subframe is in this position, pins 40 maybe entered through the registering perforations 38 and 39 rigidlyto-hold the subframe 30 in its extreme upright position.

Suitable means is provided for moving the subframe 30. As shown, a winch41 is carried at the upper end of the mast 16, said winch comprising adrum 42, and flexible strand means, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 43, provides an operative connection between the drum 42 and thedistal region of the subframe 30. In its optimum form, the flexiblestrand means 43 comprises a bridle section 44, one end region 45 ofwhich terminally carries hook means 46 engageable, at times, in one openend region 47 of the cross bar 33, flexible sheath means 48 beingslidably carried on'said region 45 and passing around and beneath thedistal end of the member 35 of the boom 31, as is most clearly shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. The other end region 49 of the bridle section 44similarly carries terminal hook means 50 for engagement in the oppositeopen end of the cross bar 33, and sheath means 51 which passes aroundand beneath the distal end of the member 35 of the boom The bight region52 of the bridle section 44 securely carries a saddle 53. A separatesection 54 of the flexible strand means has one end wrapped about thedrum 42 and extends thence about a block 55 secured to the saddle 53,then about a block 56 secured to the mast 16 and thence to clamp means76 whereby it is secured to the bight region 52 of the bridle section44. It will be seen that, thus, the flexible strand means 43 as a wholeprovides an operative connection between the winch 41 and the subframe30 whereby force may be applied, with great mechanical advantage, to thesubframe 30 to lift the same from its horizontal position of FIG. 2 toits upright position.

Near one end of the cross bar 33 there is mounted a bracket 57, saidbracket being formed, at its proximal end, to provide a sleeve 58telescopically receiving the cross bar end. The cross bar is providedwith suitable longitudinally-extending guide means 59 which, in theillustrated embodiment of the invention, may be a length of metal rodwelded to the cross bar, and a radial notch 60, opening into theinterior of the sleeve 58, may be formed in said sleeve to receive andmate with said guide element 59. Thus, the bracket 57 is mounted on thecross bar for longitudinal movement relative thereto, but is heldagainst turning movement about the axis of the cross bar.

At its distal end, the bracket 57 is formed to provide a head 61presenting a substantially cylindrical surface for a purpose which willbecome apparent.

Said head 61 is formed with an axial bore 62 in which is oscillablyreceived the shank 63 of a hasp 64 formed with a head 65 and bent todefine a base 66 and an arm 67 which is substantially parallel with theshank 63 and suitably spaced from the cylindrical surface of head 61. Asis most clearly to be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the arm 67 of the hasp 64cooperates with the cylindrical surface of the head 61 to provide meansfor embracing an element, such as, for instance, a leaf spring suggestedat 68 in FIG. 3, of a vehicle to be towed.

Another bracket 76 is similarly mounted near the other end of the crossbar 33. Since the two brackets and their mountings are alike, exceptthat they are of opposite hand, bracket 76 will not be described indetail. g

It will be apparent that, when not in use, the dolly may stand in thecondition illustrated in FIG. 1, but preferably with the pins 40 engagedin the perforations 38 and 39 so that there is no strain on the flexiblestrand means 43. When it is to be transported to a point of use, it willbe coupled to a towing vehicle, by means of the coupling element 15,whereby the wheel 17 will ordinarily be lifted off the ground. Uponarrival at the point of use, the pins 40 will be withdrawn and the winch41 will be operated to lower the subframe 30 to the position of FIG. 2.Now, the dolly will be moved rearwardly, either by movement of thetowing vehicle or, after disconnection of the coupler 15, by manualmanipulation, to locate the cross bar 33 at a suitable point beneath oneend of the vehicle to be towed for instance, near to, and parallel with,an axle supported by leaf springs. At this time, the brackets 57 and 76will be positioned near the extremities of the cross bar 33. Now, thehasps 64 are turned so that their bases 66 are substantially upright,the winch 41 is operated to lift the bracket heads 61 substantially intothe plane of the lower surfaces of the vehicle springs and the brackets57 and 76 are individually moved toward the center of the vehicle sothat the springs will be separately embraced between the heads 61 andthe hasp arms 67 of the respective brackets.

Now, the winch 41 can be operated to swing the subframe 30 about thepivots 28 and 29, thus lifting the engaged end of the vehicle to betowed. As is suggested in FIG. 2, the booms 31 and 32 may be extended toany desired degree before the dolly is backed under the vehicle to betowed, in order to facilitate engagement of the brackets 57 and 76 withthe desired portion of the vehicle to be towed. Depending upon theelevation to which it is desired to lift the engaged end of the vehicleto be towed, the pins 36 may be inserted in selected perforations in themembers 35 of the booms; and, as the subframe is lifted, the members 35will slip inwardly into the members 34 during the liftingoperation. Asthe subframe 30 swings, the points of engagement of the springs, orother portions, of the vehicle to be towed will, of course, rock aboutthe cylindrical surfaces of the heads 61, and the hasps 64 willcorrespondingly turn about their axes. When the lifting operation hasbeen completed, the pins 40 will be inserted through the registeringperforations 38 and 39 to retain the subframe in its elevated position.

Either before or after the lifting operation, the hooks 46 and 50 may bedisengaged from the cross bar 33 and engaged with suitable elements onthe vehicle to be towed so that, during the towing operation, towingforce will be applied to that vehicle not only through the subframe 30but also directly through the flexible strand means 43.

In FIG. 5, I have shown a further means associated with the bracket 57for embracing a part of the vehicle to be towed. The body of eachbracket is formed with inclined slots 69 and 70, said slots beingformed, respectively, in planes perpendicular to each other. A length oflink chain, indicated generally. by the reference numeral 71, carries ahook 72 at one end adapted to be hooked into an opening 74 in an element73 of the vehicle to be towed. The chain 71 is then wrapped about thebody of the bracket 57, as shown in FIG. 5, and one link 75 of the chainis seated in one of the slots 69 or 70, or separate links of the chainmay be individually seated in both of said slots, whereby the vehiclepart is affirmatively tethered to the bracket.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframesupported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between asubstantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position,means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with anelement of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis forapplying force to said subframe to swing the same between saidpositions, in which said chassis comprises a pair of transverselyspacedhangers dependent below the rear region of said chassis, and saidsubframe comprises a pair of booms respectively pivotally supported attheir proximal ends upon a substantially common transverse axis near thebottoms of said respective hangers and thus below said chassis, and across bar spanning and joining the distal regions of said booms.

2. The dolly of claim 1 in which said force-applying means compriseswinch means carried by said chassis and flexible strand means providingan operative connection between said winch means and transverselyspacedpoints on said cross bar.

3. The dolly of claim 1 in which each of said booms comprises aplurality of telescopically-associated members.

4. The dolly of claim 3 including means associated with each boom forselectively limiting the degree of penetration of one of said membersinto another at any one of a plurality of values.

5. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframesupported from said chassis to swing,

about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position anda substantially upright position, means at the distal region of saidsubframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, meanscarried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing thesame between said positions, said last-named means comprising winchmeans on said chassis and flexible strand means providing an operativeconnection between said winch means and the distal region of saidsubframe, said flexible strand means comprising a bridle section havingits opposite end regions respectively connected at laterally-spacedpoints to the distal region of said subframe, and a separate sectionwound on said winch means and operatively connected to the bight regionof said bridle section, a saddle at the bight region of said bridlesection, a first block secured to said saddle, and a second blockcarried by said chassis, said separate section of said flexible strandmeans extending from said winch means through said first block, thencethrough said second block and thence to an anchorage fixed with respectto said saddle.

6. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframesupported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between asubstantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position,means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with anelement of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis forapplying force to said subframe to swing the same between saidpositions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotallymounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely ofsaid chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms,the opposite end regions of said cross bar being open, saidforce-applying means comprising winch means on said chassis and flexiblestrand means having a bridle section and having a second section woundon said winch means and operatively connected to the bight region ofsaid bridle section, one end region of said bridle section being passedaround one of said booms and bearing a hook engageable in the adjacentopen end of said cross bar, and the other end region of said bridlesection being passed around the other of said booms and bearing a hookengageable in the adjacent open end of said cross bar.

7. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframesupported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between asubstantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position,means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with anelement of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis forapplying force to said subframe to swing the same between saidpositions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotallymounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely ofsaid chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms,bracket means carried by said cross bar at laterally spaced positions,each bracket means being rotationally fixed but longitudinally movablerelative to said cross bar and means associated with each bracket meansfor embracing an element of a vehicle to be towed.

8. The dolly of claim 7 in which each bracket means is formed to providea distally-presented, substantially cylindrical surface and saidembracing means comprises a hasp mounted for oscillation about the axisof said surface and having an arm spaced from, and axially parallel to,said surface to define, with said surface, a space opening toward thetransverse center of said subframe.

9. The dolly of claim 7 in which each bracket means has a body extendingrearwardly away from said cross bar and formed with an open-mouthedslot, and said embracing means comprises a length of chain having hookmeans at one end for engagement with such a vehicle element with saidchain wrapped about at least a part of such vehicle element and at leastpart of said bracket means and with a link of said chain anchored tosaid bracket means by seating in said slot.

2 73 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3 70.3-,240 Y Dated November 21, 1972 Inventor(s) Arvin E Russell It iscertified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that saidLetters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' In the caption, theraddress of the inventor should read 115 D.Antoinette Place, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227 Column 2, line 620, "76"shouldbe 78 Column 3, line 22, after "of" insert the Signed and sealedthis 1st day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER, J'R. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said chassis comprises a pair of transversely-spaced hangers dependent below the rear region of said chassis, and said subframe comprises a pair of booms respectively pivotally supported at their proximal ends upon a substantially common transverse axis near the bottoms of said respective hangers and thus below said chassis, and a cross bar spanning and joining the distal regions of said booms.
 1. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said chassis comprises a pair of transversely-spaced hangers dependent below the rear region of said chassis, and said subframe comprises a pair of booms respectively pivotally supported at their proximal ends upon a substantially common transverse axis near the bottoms of said respective hangers and thus below said chassis, and a cross bar spanning and joining the distal regions of said booms.
 2. The dolly of claim 1 in which said force-applying means comprises winch means carried by said chassis and flexible strand means providing an operative connection between said winch means and transversely-spaced points on said cross bar.
 3. The dolly of claim 1 in which each of said booms comprises a plurality of telescopically-associated members.
 4. The dolly of claim 3 including means associated with each boom for selectively limiting the degree of penetration of one of said members into another at any one of a plurality of values.
 5. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, said last-named means comprising winch means on said chassis and flexible strand means providing an operative connection between said winch means and the distal region of said subframe, said flexible strand means comprising a bridle section having its opposite end regions respectively connected at laterally-spaced points to the distal region of said subframe, and a separate section wound on said winch means and operatively connected to the bight region of said bridle section, a saddle at the bight region of said bridle section, a first block secured to said saddle, and a second block carried by said chassis, said separate section of said flexible strand means extending from said winch means through said first block, thence through said second block and thence to an anchorage fixed with respect to said saddle.
 6. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swinG the same between said positions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotally mounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely of said chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms, the opposite end regions of said cross bar being open, said force-applying means comprising winch means on said chassis and flexible strand means having a bridle section and having a second section wound on said winch means and operatively connected to the bight region of said bridle section, one end region of said bridle section being passed around one of said booms and bearing a hook engageable in the adjacent open end of said cross bar, and the other end region of said bridle section being passed around the other of said booms and bearing a hook engageable in the adjacent open end of said cross bar.
 7. A vehicle towing dolly comprising a wheeled chassis, a subframe supported from said chassis to swing, about a transverse axis, between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially upright position, means at the distal region of said subframe for engagement with an element of a vehicle to be towed, and means carried by said chassis for applying force to said subframe to swing the same between said positions, in which said subframe comprises a pair of booms pivotally mounted to swing about a common fixed axis extending transversely of said chassis, and a cross bar joining the distal regions of said booms, bracket means carried by said cross bar at laterally spaced positions, each bracket means being rotationally fixed but longitudinally movable relative to said cross bar and means associated with each bracket means for embracing an element of a vehicle to be towed.
 8. The dolly of claim 7 in which each bracket means is formed to provide a distally-presented, substantially cylindrical surface and said embracing means comprises a hasp mounted for oscillation about the axis of said surface and having an arm spaced from, and axially parallel to, said surface to define, with said surface, a space opening toward the transverse center of said subframe. 